An investigation of building construction and materials issues in Northern Iraq for residential projects

Building construction and materials constitute one of the biggest sectors of the Northern Iraqi construction industry as housing construction is one of the largest sectors in Iraqi cities projects. At present, the construction industry is perceived to include high-risk factors. Considering its inherent characteristics, the riskiness of the industry becomes even more apparent. In the design phase, the selection of appropriate construction materials is essential for the success of the project as a whole. The main aim of this research is to determine the factors most influential for the successful construction of buildings and the selection of materials for residential projects in Northern Iraq. The methodology of this research is mixed, employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the form of observation, interviews, and an extensive questionnaire survey which was sent to 132 architects experienced in residential construction project with 60 architects responding. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The study discovered an apparent inability amongst architects to translate their information and awareness into suitable design implementation in Northern Iraqi residential projects. According to the results, all the important factors were ranked based on their effects such as an unwillingness to change the conventional ways of construction. On the other hand, most of the problems encountered in the residential buildings relate to the lack of a foundation design, wall cracking, and roof moisture in Northern Iraqi projects. Keywords: Residential Building, Construction Materials Selection, Architectural Experience, Construction Problems, and Northern Iraq.